NFL wants coaches to not complain about new helmet-use rule

Before Wednesday’s 31-1 vote that prevents players in the open field from using the tops of their helmets to ram opponents, plenty of coaches expressed concerns about the proposal.

Now that the rule has been passed, don’t count on any coaches popping off.

As we mentioned earlier in the day on Twitter, word around the league meetings in the aftermath of the vote is that the powers-that-be told coaches not to criticize the new rule.

It’s not uncommon for the NFL to direct its coaches to be discreet. On plenty of topics, the First Amendment rights crafted by the founding fathers get flung overboard once the coach applies his John Hancock to a seven-figure contract.

It’ll be interesting to see whether the coaches continue to comply once their teams lose 15 yards after a long play.

Probably the worst rule change in the history of football. It is going to be wildly inconsistent how its called. Game winning runs are going to get called back, or NOT called back when based on the rules. Worst of all its not going to protect runners either. So they are supposed to stay upright and get lit up? Coaches should be complaining loud and hard right now.

“Hey guys…were gonna pass this ridiculous rule thats impossible to officiate because when we get sued, we want to be able to prove we made an effort to make things safe…the refs will mess up all the time, but we’ll try to even it out…just dont complain about it, please!!!”

This is not NASCAR where they fine drivers mad cash for speaking out against the cars they are forced to drive and compete in,ie: Denny Hamlin. The coaches have to speak out against this kind of crap in order to protect the integrity of the game and the fundamental way its coached and played

People are making a bigger deal about this than it really is. It isn’t going to change the game much, if at all. It’s funny how people complain about the NFL only caring about their profits and not about safety, and when they address the safety issues everyone whines about how they destroyed the game… So why would they intentionally destroy the game if its going to hurt their profits?

I’d like to know if marshawn lynch’s run against the saints in the playoffs a few years ago would have been called back…Hey PFT powers that be can we Have daopoulis review that play in light of this new rule, please?

I not gonna waste too much time.
Obviously godell and the owners are off on another “Don’t confuse me with facts, my minds made up” exercise in stupidity. Probably at 21k a pop. Reminds me of that old song about I owe my soul to the company store. All I can say is much more money than brains.

The owners ram rodded this through worried about potential law suits. They must appear to be doing everything in their power to make the game safer. The players, coaches, and fans, seem to hate this rule. The owners will put a gag order on their coaches. It will be interesting to see how it’s actually enforced. I personally don’t like the rule.

Of course the NFL doesn’t want the coaches to complain about the rule…What are they supposed to do when the referee has no clue on how to officiate this call this season? Sit there and take it? Another terrible move on Mr Goodells part…I’m still baffled why he made $30 million last year????

Dont speak your mind on a completely stupid rule or the dictator will see you at the league office for a “productive meeting” and a ridiculous fine to your organization to help line the fatcats pockets….what a joke of a league this is becoming.

thetooloftools says:
Mar 20, 2013 6:08 PM
Players are now suing the NFL because of these hits being legal. They brought this on themselves so they really need to shut up.

As frustrating & ridiculous as this rule is to fans & many players, tooloftools’ comment is accurate. Players can’t have it both ways despite their protestations to the contrary. I’ll believe that the players are serious in their belief that this rule is nonsense once they all drop their head-injury legal actions. Until then, they’re just playing to the masses…

This is absolutely no problem. What we will be seeing and hearing in the media is “People close to Coach… are very upset with the new rule.” If you don’t believe me, discuss it with “People close to Tom Brady are very upset with the Patriots for releasing Welker.”

Except for Belichick, of course: he doesn’t have any people close to him.

Fans want NFL coaches to speak frankly and honestly about NFL rule changes–preferably before rule changes are adopted. But it seems honest input from the people who play and coach the game isn’t welcome in Goodell’s World.

You know, I complained about the kickoff changes a couple of years ago, but the stats regarding injuries on kickoff was inescapable, and the changes cut the injuries dramatically.

Here, Jeff Fisher – not Roger Goodell – says the evidence was overwhelming regarding this use of the helmet, and the support for this in the Competition Committee was unanimous. Maybe we should see how it is implemented before we all assume it will “destroy the game.” Frankly, people have been talking about rule changes “destroying the game” since the 50s and guys like Night Train Lane, and the game is more popular than ever.

Call it what you want, this just gives Goodie another opportunity to tax players after a game. The more rules dished out, the more chances of getting to players funds. Goodell hiding behind player safety to satisfy an alternate agenda…

The NFL network has been in full scale propaganda mode since this decision was made. It was too painful to watch. I had to turn it off. Big Fail! Only a matter of time before the full transition to flag football to is complete.

I see almost zero consideration for what the fans think about this and other rule changes. No fans, no concussions; problem solved I guess.

The reality is even with the rule changes there is a reasonable chance that a player will be killed next year in a play that will be penalized. after the damage is done. You can’t prevent an illegal and dangerous hit with a flag.

I will now put my bubble wrap suit on to prevent injury while walking around the house so I can’t type any more – later.

This sounds very familiar to the rules they placed on Payton after the farce of bounty gate.
“We set the rules, you comply. Don’t like it? Get suspended. It’s because we say so and that is reason enough.”

You’re getting what you deserve for supporting that chump just because you hated a team and its kinda funny.

The NFL is a private enterprise. The First Amendment only prohibits governments from restricting free speech of its citizens. Private businesses, including the NFL, can require employees to refrain from speaking in a negative way about the business. A very common, routine business practice. An employee is an agent of the employer. Their words are considered the words of their employer. Common sense dictates that employees not criticize the company. They are free to do it, just not on behalf of the company itself.

Such a basic principle, but if the NFL does it all of a sudden it supposedly is another example of the league’s tyranny. Please. I don’t agree with everything the league does, but I don’t disagree with everything either.

Virtually all of the owners who voted for the rule change have been making similar decisions for decades. Businesses become obsolete if they don’t evolve. It has been under the stewardship of the current owners that the NFL has exploded into the dominant sports enterprise in the United States. Without a close second. This includes frequently changing the rules. Seems to me, they might know what they are doing.

Yet, the vast majority of commenters here apparently know for certain the league is on the verge of ruin. And that Roger Goodell is the second incarnation of Satan itself. Get over it. The objective evidence soundly repudiates such ignorant claims.

I’m questioning the vote. In an article yesterday, it was stated that the Redskins were abstaining from all voting that was done. In every article about this particular rule change, it’s been noted that the vote was 31-1, signifying that all teams voted. Did the Redskins not continue their abstinenence from voting when this rule change was brought up for votes?